Introduce a Kiwi Island of Origin series
Roar Guru By Corey, 24 Jan 2010 Bam Bam is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Island of Origin, New Zealand, Rugby League, State Of Origin
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The cries of our Tasman brothers are being heard loud and clear: the Polynesians and kiwi Rugby League players say they want to play State of Origin footy. But the question is why can’t they play State of Origin, Kiwi style?
For too long this debate rages when State of Origin permeates the air, but the debate should be brought forward, these questions should be asked now.
We have seen this with the success of the promotion of the NRL Dreamtime v All-Stars game; every channel covers the latest updates (whereas this doesn’t happen for the AFL game played in Darwin or Alice Springs).
So why not have a discussion on behalf of our white cloud neighbours, why not discuss the possibility of having a North Island vs South Island game – an Island of Origin – every year.
Rugby League is played mainly on the North Island, but nonetheless a game between the two islands would attract much fanfare amongst the Kiwis, and even amongst Australian League fans.
Although the NZRL are looking at bringing in the ‘Kiwi Roots’ game, this is a disadvantage to the game across New Zealand in general, as this game is played between Auckland and the rest of the country. Whereas an ‘Island of Origin’ would bring the whole country into rivalry, not just Auckland verses the rest.
The game would spread further afield, and become entrenched in the New Zealand sporting calendar as something that brings the whole country together in rivalry. It would attract more people to the game, along with more media coverage.
The game would have to be played only once a year initially, but may end up being played three times. It would have to be played either at the start of the league calendar or at the end. All in all it is a good move for the game in New Zealand, and internationally.
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- Island of Origin, New Zealand, Rugby League, State Of Origin
January 24th 2010 @ 8:26am
Dogs Of War said | January 24th 2010 @ 8:26am | Report comment
I agree with the sentiment. State Of Orgin should be played on weekends, but the problem is that there is just not enough product. Something like a NZ State of Origin played on another day (or at 7:30NZ time as the lead in game to the Australian version on a Saturday night).
Then it comes down to working out how to fill in the other slots over the weekend. Things like Pacific Island test matches played at this time, or even 3 sevens\nines comps for those players who don’t make the cut (1 for each State Of Origin weekend) in different cities, could be a great celebration of the game.
January 24th 2010 @ 9:50am
Billy the Hunted One said | January 24th 2010 @ 9:50am | Report comment
There’s an easy response to this article – League is not a popular sport in NZ. It’s only played in south Auckland. I’m a kiwi and I absolutely hate league – it rates well down the list over here, after Union, football, netball, cricket, watersports. The tacky way Australians promote their sports doesn’t work in NZ either – look at the Warriors – they’re the laughing joke of NZ sport mate. So, stick your State of Origin rubbish to QLD NSW – if you want to expand it, go to Port Moresby.
January 24th 2010 @ 10:45am
Travis said | January 24th 2010 @ 10:45am | Report comment
“I’m a kiwi and I absolutely hate league” – no need to state what was obvious from your anti-RL post.
January 24th 2010 @ 3:57pm
Jeb said | January 24th 2010 @ 3:57pm | Report comment
It’s not about expansion. More like kiwis and polys wanting to be part of the greatest event in RL.
January 28th 2010 @ 8:28am
jordan said | January 28th 2010 @ 8:28am | Report comment
wow why so negitive? everything you just claimed is totally untrue. league may not be as popular as union but to say it isnt popular at all and only played in south auckland is totally ridiculous! the warriors arnt the joke of nz, only two seasons ago they went one game away from the nrl grandfinal.. and you say netball cricket and watersports rates higher than league in nz.. im amazed by this. Billy the Hunted One, you are the laughing of NZ!
January 24th 2010 @ 10:15am
Rodney McDonell said | January 24th 2010 @ 10:15am | Report comment
Auckalnd v Rest is still good enough. Look at it another way, City v Country.
January 24th 2010 @ 10:37am
Robbo said | January 24th 2010 @ 10:37am | Report comment
Probably hasn’t happened before because RL isn’t actually played on the South Island to a degree anywhere near the North. Please think before writing.
If this game was played the North would win by 100 odd points – not really what we think of when we hear Origin!
Just looked at the New Zealand squad, not one player in the 17 was from the South.
To put in in an Australian context this idea has about as much merit as Queensland playing an Origin match against Victoria.
January 24th 2010 @ 11:29am
Tinnie said | January 24th 2010 @ 11:29am | Report comment
As for the island origin, at this stage i simply dont see the Kiwi’s embracing it enough for the NRL to deem a perminant fixture. I’d like something akin to the opening ceremony of the last world cup, with 3 games for the day for an affordable price, something like that each offseason.
Loved the Aboriginal vs Mauri game, could also have an Australian Schoolboys vs NZ Schoolboys, try and get PNG in there somewhere….hell even a women’s RL game i’ll enjoy to watch. I like the idea of promoting the other faces of the sport, i’m sure people would come and surely wouldnt be a far stretch to organise something like this once a year.
January 24th 2010 @ 11:53am
Sam said | January 24th 2010 @ 11:53am | Report comment
Like Dogs of War I think the sentiment is good, but there are a few problems with the specifics. League isn’t played enough in the South Island for them to be competitive. It’s popular on the West Coast, and there is a club competition in Canterbury, but there is nothing in Southland or Otago, and nothing up in Tasman. They used to have a North Island vs South Island annual rugby union match in the amateur days – and even in that sport the North won 2/3 of the time. Although an Auckland vs The Rest game might be slightly better, I’d still be surprised if Auckland didn’t win 80% of the time, and the concept isn’t going to work unless it’s closer to 50/50. They’d be better trying to make the mid-season ANZAC Test more competitive – as a lot of the Kiwis squad is based in the UK it’s nearly always a complete joke.
January 28th 2010 @ 7:08am
oikee said | January 28th 2010 @ 7:08am | Report comment
The whole idea is for the south island to get flogged, keep flogging them until they get cheesed off.
Then you have your battle.
January 24th 2010 @ 12:54pm
M1tch said | January 24th 2010 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
Yeh NZ origin would be a cool idea, also have the other pacific islands playing too
Thats got to be the bonus for broadcasters if the weekend before Origin is NRL FREE-ZONE, we need other games to be played
Be a cool set up to have Friday Night Tonga v Samoa – Sat night NZ Origin and Sunday arvo Fiji v PNG
January 24th 2010 @ 1:29pm
macavity said | January 24th 2010 @ 1:29pm | Report comment
Auckland v the rest is the go.
January 24th 2010 @ 1:45pm
Dave said | January 24th 2010 @ 1:45pm | Report comment
It won’t work unless the NRL release all players and if your thinking about the local players in NZ then thats even worst.
January 24th 2010 @ 2:07pm
hutch said | January 24th 2010 @ 2:07pm | Report comment
you say no one would give a toss, and then you say only 8000 people play the sport in nz (there are more of course). so not one of these “8000″ would give a toss? another paranoid union fan!